MYTHS

In this day and age when so much information about food and nutrition is freely available, suddenly everyone is an expert. As a nutrition specialist, it often makes me laugh (and sometimes even cringe) to hear some of the myths which are perpetuated. Since the first step towards achieving your goals effectively is to differentiate the facts from misinterpreted and false claims, here are some tips to get you started.

In the last couple of years, the term "superfood" has gained increasing amounts of popularity. Trendy products like acai, wheatgrass, kefir and goji berries promise health, wellness and extreme weight loss. Consequently, companies bank on these exaggerated claims by slapping on a hefty price tag. So before you shell out your hard-earned cash on trendy overpriced foods, go back to the basics and stock up on ingredients that tend to be overlooked despite their impressive nutritional content.

India has the largest TB burden of any country in the world with over 2 million cases and 500,000 deaths annually. In addition to health system-related challenges, there are a number of myths about TB which prevent patients from seeking treatment or stigmatise affected populations. Here are five of the most persistent misconceptions about TB.

Following an extended marketing campaign, the first book, Scion of Ikshvaku, of the new Ram Chandra series by author Amish Tripathi, was released on 22 June 2015. So, does the book live up to the hoopla? I got my pre-ordered copy from Amazon on 23 June, and was not disappointed. The book is a rollercoaster ride taking readers through the familiar tropes and themes of Indian mythology, but with new twists and turns provided by the author.

Most Tamil films of my time had a first-night-after-the-wedding scene, in which a plump bejewelled heroine, dressed in jasmine and silk, coyly offered a tall silver tumbler of milk to a bull-necked hero, who quaffed it and burst into song before ravishing the woman on the bed. "It's cow's milk with soaked nutmeg, almonds and pista essence, and spiked with saffron and palm candy sugar," Sachu maami informed.

Friday or the sixth day of the week has had a bad rep since ancient times. From the Pagans, Vikings and the Norse, to several other cultures, people considered the day ominous. Superstition lingers and more so, if it falls on the 13th of a month.

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